New York Giants: 5 2012 NFL Draft Pieces To Compliment Eli Manning

December is already upon us, which means all NFL team's scouting departments will be gearing up for the meticulous offseason process leading up to April's draft.

The New York Giants are not without weaknesses, which shouldn't be a surprise for a 6-6 team. Jerry Reese and his staff have ignored some positions for far too long and will have to start addressing those concerns now.

Reese has been one of the best GMs in the league, but injuries had driven this team into the ground after a 6-2 start.

It is time to start adding depth. Here are five positions I believe the Giants will concentrate on come April 2012, in order from most important to least.

Offensive Line

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Jerry Reese started preparing for the future when he drafted T James Brewer in the fourth round last year, but this year the Giants have to consider drafting a franchise caliber left tackle or interior lineman.

The Will Beatty experiment did not go well. He is a tremendous athlete, but he doesn't have a mean streak and is average at best at run blocking.

Beatty seems more like a right tackle to me, and if they go with someone like Matt Kalil they can set themselves up with terrific talent for the next decade.

Outside Linebacker

Due to the lack of trust the Giants have at the linebacker position, they have been forced to play their three-safety set for most of the season.

They used to be considered a 4-3 defense, but now most would call them a 4-2-5.

Mathias Kiwanuka made the switch back to linebacker this season, but I can assure you the Giants would rather he be playing his primary position of defensive end.

Plus you have the whole Osi Umenyiora situation—the writing appears to be on the wall for him to be playing elsewhere in 2012.

If he does leave and Kiwanuka moves back to end, that leaves a gaping hole at outside linebacker. Anyone who has covered the Giants for the past few seasons could tell you that the outside linebacker position has been a weakness for a long time.

For some reason or another, the Giants have felt they can hide that weakness, but that just isn't the case.